A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON NS1 ANTIGEN DETECTION IN ACUTE DENGUE INFECTION BY RAPID DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND ELISA IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN KANCHIPURAM.

Dr.Geetha; Dr. K.Muthulakshmi; Dr. Nagajothi; Dr. Nisha Tiwari

Volume : VI, Issue : XI, November - 2017

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON NS1 ANTIGEN DETECTION IN ACUTE DENGUE INFECTION BY RAPID DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND ELISA IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN KANCHIPURAM.

Dr. Geetha, Dr. K. Muthulakshmi, Dr. Nagajothi, Dr. Nisha Tiwari

Abstract :

Background and objectives: Dengue cases in India are increasing in epidemic proportions. Diagnosis of acute Dengue infection is important for clinical care , implementing control measures, surveillance and research. Virus isolation and viral nucleic acid detection requires specialized laboratory equipments and expertise. For resource limited labs test like rapid Immuno chromatography test (ICT), based or ELISA based tests for detection of NS₁ antigen can be used.

Methods: The acute phase serum samples of 100 patients presenting with Dengue fever were subjected to NS₁ antigen detection by ICT and ELISA simultaneously.

Results: Among the 100 patients, 58 patients positive by ELISA and 28 patients positive by ICT. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the rapid ICT tests for NS₁antigen were 48.28%,100%,100% and 58.33% respectively .

Interpretation and conclusion: NS₁ antigen detection by ICT is less efficient than ELISA due to its less sensitivity and less negative predictive value. So its better to do ELISA directly in diagnosing Dengue infection within three days of onset of fever.